Taylor Frankie Paul: Swinging Scandal, LDS Exit & New Life
When Taylor Frankie Paul posted a tearful TikTok in 2022 admitting she had been part of a “swinging culture” within her Mormon friend group, few could have predicted the chain reaction it would set off – a divorce, church discipline, and a Hulu reality series that introduced millions to the quiet subcultures inside modern Mormon communities. This article details her biography, controversies, and what comes next.
Born: May 23, 1994 · Known for: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, TikTok influencer · TikTok followers: 6.2 million · Former religion: LDS · Children: 3 · Former spouse: Tate Paul
Quick snapshot
- Born May 23, 1994 in Pueblo, Colorado (Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography))
- Cast member of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki))
- Mother of three children; two with ex-husband Tate Paul, one with Dakota Mortensen (Biography.com (online biography publisher))
- Whether she has formally resigned her membership from the LDS Church or simply stopped attending (KUTV (Utah news station))
- Full extent of the swinging network within the “MomTok” group (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki))
- Exact nature of her 2026 police investigation (charges declined) (Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography))
- 2022: Public admission of swinging on TikTok (YouTube (video platform))
- Feb 2023: Arrested after argument with Dakota Mortensen (Biography.com (online biography publisher))
- Aug 2023: Pleaded guilty to aggravated assault (Biography.com (online biography publisher))
- Apr 2025: Announces she is “detaching” from the LDS Church (KUTV (Utah news station))
- Continuing her social media career as a reality personality (Biography.com (online biography publisher))
- Raising three young children, mostly out of the public eye (Biography.com (online biography publisher))
- Potential further legal developments – 2026 incident not prosecuted (Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography))
Nine key facts, one pattern: Taylor’s public identity has shifted from devout Mormon mom to a controversial reality star navigating legal troubles, church discipline, and a blended family.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Taylor Frankie Paul |
| Birthdate | May 23, 1994 |
| Hometown | Utah, United States |
| Children | Indy (b. 2019), Ocean (b. 2023), Ever (b. 2024) |
| Former spouse | Tate Paul (m. 2017–2023) |
| Current partner | Dakota Mortensen (from 2022) |
| Religion | Former LDS (disfellowshipped) |
| TV credits | The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (2024); The Bachelorette (season 17) |
| Known for | TikTok influencer, 6.2M followers |
Are Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota still together?
Current relationship status in 2025
- As of late 2025, Taylor and Dakota Mortensen are reportedly still together, though Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography) notes they were in a relationship from 2022 to 2026, suggesting a possible split by early 2026.
- They share two children: Ocean (born 2023) and Ever (born March 2024). Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- A February 2026 domestic incident led to a police investigation, but prosecutors declined to press charges. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
How they met
- Mortensen entered the picture shortly after Taylor’s marriage to Tate Paul collapsed in 2022. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki)
- He is a Utah-based entrepreneur and has largely kept a low public profile. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
What happened with Taylor and Tate Paul?
Filing for divorce in 2022
- Taylor and Tate Paul married in 2017 and separated in 2022. The divorce was finalized in 2023. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
- Tate filed for divorce after Taylor publicly admitted to cheating and being involved in a swinging subculture. YouTube (video platform)
Who did Taylor cheat on Tate with?
- Taylor’s TikTok video in 2022 confirmed she had participated in “swapping” with other couples in the “MomTok” group. YouTube (video platform)
- She admitted to cheating on Tate with multiple partners, including within the friend circle. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki)
What is durfing in Mormon culture?
- Durfing is a sexual practice related to “soaking” – intercourse without thrusting. Both gained notoriety through TikTok conversations within Taylor’s friend group and are considered violations of LDS teachings. (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki))
Legal custody of children
- Taylor and Tate share custody of their daughter Indy (born 2019). Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- Since the divorce, both have maintained separate lives; Tate has remained out of the spotlight. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
While the swinging scandal tore apart Taylor’s marriage, it also launched her into a national spotlight that eventually led to a Hulu contract. For Tate Paul, the consequence was losing the private family life he had built.
Who are Dakota Mortensen and Tate Paul?
Dakota Mortensen’s background
- Dakota Mortensen is a Utah‑based entrepreneur known primarily for his relationship with Taylor. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- He is the father of her two youngest children and has appeared occasionally on her social media. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
Tate Paul’s background
- Tate Paul is Taylor’s ex‑husband and the father of her first daughter, Indy. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
- He has kept a very low profile since the divorce and is not active on social media. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki)
Both men remain anonymous figures compared to Taylor’s high‑profile brand. Their privacy contrasts sharply with the very public fallout she has navigated — a deliberate choice that shapes the narrative around her story.
Is Taylor Frankie Paul still LDS?
Her disfellowship from the LDS Church
- Taylor was disfellowshipped from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints after the swinging revelations became public. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- Disfellowship is a lesser form of church discipline that restricts participation but does not remove membership. KUTV (Utah news station)
Impact on her public image
- In April 2025, Taylor wrote on social media that she was “detaching” from the LDS Church while still believing in Christ. KUTV (Utah news station)
- Her 2024 Hulu series, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, used her disfellowship as a central storyline. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
The implication: Taylor’s public break with the LDS Church is now explicit, though she has stopped short of formally resigning. For viewers of the Hulu show, this creates an ongoing question — will she ever return? Other public figures have faced similar scrutiny, such as Sam Frost: Personal Life, Relationships, and Children and Russell Crowe: Divorce, Accusations & Verified Facts.
Who are the fathers of Taylor Frankie Paul’s children?
Indy’s father: Tate Paul
- Indy (born 2019) is the daughter of Taylor and her ex‑husband Tate Paul. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
Ocean and Ever’s father: Dakota Mortensen
- Ocean (born 2023) and Ever (born March 2024) are with Taylor’s current partner, Dakota Mortensen. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- All three children are young and are rarely shown on social media. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
The pattern: Taylor’s family structure reflects her transition from a traditional Mormon marriage to a modern blended family, a reality she now shares with millions of followers.
Timeline
- 1994 – Taylor Frankie Paul born in Pueblo, Colorado. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
- 2017 – Marries Tate Paul. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
- 2019 – Birth of daughter Indy. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- 2020 – Rises to TikTok fame as part of “MomTok”. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki)
- 2022 – Admits to swinging and cheating on TikTok; Tate files for divorce. YouTube (video platform)
- 2022 – Begins relationship with Dakota Mortensen. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- Feb 2023 – Arrested after drunken argument with Dakota; charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- Aug 2023 – Pleads guilty to aggravated assault; other charges dismissed. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- 2023 – Divorce finalized; first child with Dakota, Ocean, born; LDS disfellowship. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- 2024 – Birth of third child Ever; Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premieres. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- 2025 – Announces she is detaching from LDS Church. KUTV (Utah news station)
- Feb 2026 – New police investigation after incident with Dakota Mortensen; charges declined. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
The 2026 legal incident, though not prosecuted, signals a recurring pattern of crisis. For a public figure rebuilding her brand after disfellowship, each new legal episode risks eroding the audience trust she regained through her reality show.
What we know vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Taylor was disfellowshipped from the LDS Church after the swinging revelations. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- She is no longer with Tate Paul. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
- She has children with both Tate and Dakota. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
- Her reality show premiered on Hulu in 2024. Biography.com (online biography publisher)
What’s unclear
- Whether she has formally resigned membership from the LDS Church or simply stopped attending. KUTV (Utah news station)
- The full extent of the swinging network among the MomTok group. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Wiki (fan wiki)
- Whether the 2026 incident will have lasting legal or custody consequences. Wikipedia (crowdsourced biography)
The contradictions highlight how much of Taylor’s story remains unresolved despite public scrutiny.
Quotes from Taylor and others
“I never intentionally did anything with my children.” — Taylor Frankie Paul on the Call Her Daddy podcast, September 2025 (Biography.com (online biography publisher))
“Born and raised Mormon (LDS) and I’ll always have love and respect towards it. … it’s time to detach myself from it.” — Taylor Frankie Paul, social media post, April 2025 (KUTV (Utah news station))
“I got into swinging … I didn’t even know it was called swinging.” — Taylor Frankie Paul, TikTok video, 2022 (YouTube (video platform))
Taylor’s own words paint a picture of someone caught between a strict religious upbringing and the freedom of social media fame. For the LDS community, her public detachment from the church is a cautionary tale about the collision of tradition and internet culture.
The fallout from her public confession and subsequent divorce has been extensively covered, including details about Taylor Frankie Pauls ex-husband.
Frequently asked questions
What is Taylor Frankie Paul’s current relationship status?
As of early 2026, she is reportedly no longer with Dakota Mortensen, following a police investigation in February 2026 that ended without charges.
How many children does Taylor Frankie Paul have?
Three: Indy (born 2019, father Tate Paul), Ocean (born 2023, father Dakota Mortensen), and Ever (born March 2024, father Dakota Mortensen).
Is Taylor Frankie Paul still on TikTok?
Yes, she remains active on TikTok with 6.2 million followers, though her content now focuses on her reality show and daily life rather than Mormon‑themed clips.
What show is Taylor Frankie Paul on?
She is a main cast member of Hulu’s reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in 2024.
Why was Taylor Frankie Paul disfellowshipped?
The LDS Church disfellowshipped her after she publicly admitted to participating in a swinging culture, which violated the church’s law of chastity.
Who is Taylor Frankie Paul’s ex‑husband?
Tate Paul, whom she married in 2017. Their divorce was finalized in 2023.
Who is the father of Taylor Frankie Paul’s children?
Tate Paul is the father of her oldest daughter, Indy; Dakota Mortensen is the father of her two youngest, Ocean and Ever.
What is the difference between soaking and durfing?
“Soaking” refers to intercourse without thrusting, and “durfing” is a related practice. Both gained notoriety through TikTok conversations within Taylor’s friend group and are considered violations of LDS teachings.
These answers reflect the most common queries about Taylor’s life, though some details remain in flux as new developments emerge.
More related posts
James Gandolfini: Cause of Death, Struggles, and Legacy
How to Remove Mildew Smell from Towels: Step-by-Step Guide
BIG W Charlestown: Store Guide to Level 1, Parking & Lay-by
Ray-Ban Sunglasses: Prices, Authenticity, Best Models
Gorge Wildlife Park: Animals, Koala Holding & Reviews
Brent Faiyaz Biography: Real Name, Ethnicity, Accident & More
Cartier Love Ring – History, Prices and Authentication Guide
Seating Bench Guide: Types, Sizes & Terminology
